The World’s Leading Brand

of Aspirating Smoke
Detection

www.xtralis.com/vesda
The Seven Reasons for VESDA
When business continuity
1 is paramount
Is uptime a key business goal? Is service provision
critical?
VESDA very early warning smoke detectors provide the
earliest warning of a potential fire which buys time to
investigate, intervene and avoid business disruption in
addition to damage, downtime and the cost of a
suppression release. Such early warning is critical for:
• Telecommunications facilities
• Server rooms
• Financial data centers
• Utilities
• Clean rooms
• Power generation facilities
2 When smoke is difficult to detect
Is high airflow diluting smoke, preventing it from
reaching the ceiling so it can be detected? Is the
smoke being trapped in ducts, pockets or voids? Is
smoke stratifying into a mushroom cloud below a
high ceiling, making it difficult to detect?
VESDA sampling points can be placed at the return air
grille or in equipment cabinets to detect smoke as it is
carried by the air. In large, open spaces, sampling
points can be placed where the smoke goes — often
some distance below the ceiling level. Suitable for:
• Server rooms
• Clean rooms
• Telecommunications facilities
• Warehouses
• Atria
• Indoor stadiums
• Theaters
• Convention centers
2
When maintenance access is
3 difficult
Is the area to be protected inaccessible? Does
maintenance on traditional fire detection systems
cause disruptions and inconvenience your business?
VESDA detectors can be mounted in accessible
locations to enable easy maintenance. Only the
sampling pipe network is placed in the inaccessible
area. Ideal for:
• Ceiling voids and sub-floor spaces
• Prisons and detention facilities
• Elevator shafts
• Ducts
• Production areas
When unobtrusive detection is
4 required
Is it important to preserve the internal design/
decoration of the building? Is vandalism a problem
with the current smoke detection system?
A VESDA system can be installed with capillary
sampling tubes, which are barely discernible to the
human eye. The detectors can be placed in a cupboard
or utility area. Great for:
• Modern offices
• Heritage buildings
• Cathedrals
• Prisons and detention centers
• Art galleries and museums
• Prestigious residences

5 When evacuation is a challenge
Will the building be open to the general public? Will
it house people who need extra help during an
evacuation? Is evacuation difficult due to crowds or
limited exits? What is the business impact of an
evacuation?
The very early warning that VESDA systems provide
allows the maximum time for evacuation. This is
critical for:
• Shopping centers
• Hospitals
• Stadiums
• Underground tunnels
• Heritage buildings
• Facilities for children and the elderly
When suppression systems are
6 present
Is suppression release costly and disruptive?
The very early warning provided by VESDA systems
allows early intervention to prevent suppression
releases. The multiple alarm levels of VESDA systems
can be used to trigger different responses at different
stages of a fire — from controlling air conditioning to
initiating a suppression release. Applicable for:
• Communications hubs
• Server rooms
• Command stations
• Switch rooms
When environmental conditions
7 are difficult
Are high background levels or industrial activities
present in the area to be protected?
VESDA VLI detector, with its ruggedized enclosure and
patented long-life, fail-safe intelligent filter technology,
is specifically designed for industrial applications with
harsh and difficult environments. The VLI detectors
can be installed within the sampling area or remote
from the detection area with only the sampling pipes
located in the protected area. The sampled air can be
filtered, warmed or cooled before reaching the
detector. Ideal for:
• Mines
• Water treatment plants
• Manufacturing and processing plants
• Fertilizer plants
• Power generation facilities
• Textile plants
• Timber, pulp and paper plants
• Transportation
3
VESDA Aspirating Smoke Detection (ASD)
The world’s leading ASD brand
VESDA very early warning smoke detection solutions
provide the earliest possible warning of an impending
fire hazard. VESDA buys time to investigate an alarm
and initiate an appropriate response to prevent injury,
property damage or business disruption. And because
VESDA has the industry’s widest sensitivity range and
multi-level alarms, even minute levels of smoke can be
detected before a fire has time to escalate.
As the world’s leading ASD brand specified by fire
professionals around the world, VESDA is synonymous
with reliable, high-performance fire detection.
This diagram shows the progression of a fire over time. Note
that the incipient stage of a fire provides the widest window of
opportunity to detect and control the spread. VESDA detectors
can be configured to generate multiple alarms within the incipient
stage. They also can be configured to generate an additional alarm
(Fire 2) at the advanced stages of a fire. This feature is unique
to VESDA and takes advantage of its wide sensitivity range that
enables one detector to monitor the entire progression of a fire.
4
How VESDA works
VESDA works by continuously drawing air into a
distributed pipe network via a high-efficiency aspirator.
The air sample then passes through a dual-stage filter.
The first stage removes dust and dirt from the air
sample before it enters the laser detection chamber.
The second, ultra-fine stage provides an additional
clean-air supply to keep the detector’s optical surfaces
free from contamination, ensuring consistent absolute
detection and long detector life as well as minimizing
nuisance alarms.
From the filter, the air sample goes through the
detection chamber where it is exposed to a laser light
source. When smoke is present, light is scattered
within the detection chamber and is instantly identified
by the highly sensitive receiver system. The signal is
then processed and presented via a bar-graph display,
alarm threshold indicators and/or graphic display.
VESDA detectors are able to communicate this
information to a fire alarm control panel, a software
management system, or a building management
system via relays or a High Level Interface (HLI).
VESDA Product Range

VESDA VLS VESDA VLF

The VESDA VLS locates the The VESDA VLF delivers
origin of smoke by identifying advanced and cost-effective
the sector (pipe) with the very early warning for small
highest level of smoke and then environments. The VESDA
continues to sample air from all VLF-250 model protects areas
sectors to monitor fire growth. up to 250 m2 (2,690 sq. ft.), and
The VESDA VLS also provides the VESDA VLF-500 model
four alarm levels for each individual pipe (Alert, Action, covers up to 500 m2 (5,380 sq. ft.). In addition to world
Fire 1 and Fire 2) and provides individual pipe leading and well-established VESDA features VESDA
addressability and settings. It protects areas up to VLF provides a new range of features and built-in
2,000 m2 (21,520 sq. ft.). intelligence for quick installation, commissioning and
servicing.

VESDA VLP VESDA VLI

The VESDA VLP is the flagship
in the VESDA product range. Like
all VESDA detectors, it detects
fire at the earliest possible stage
and reliably measures very low
to high concentrations of smoke.
It has the world’s widest
sensitivity range of 0.005 to 20% obs/m (0.0016 -
6.25% obs/ft ). VESDA VLP supports four configurable
alarm levels (Alert, Action, Fire 1 and Fire 2) and
protects areas up to 2,000 m2 (21,520 sq. ft.).
The VESDA VLI is an industry
first early warning aspirating
smoke detection system,
designed to protect industrial
applications including mining,
manufacturing, power generation
facilities, waste treatment plants
and more up to 2,000 m2 (21,520 sq. ft.). The VLI
detector combines a patented fail-safe Intelligent
Filter with Clean Air Zero and clean-air barrier for optics
protection complementing absolute detection and
providing longer detection chamber life all enclosed in
a robust IP66-rated enclosure.

VESDA VLC
VESDA VLC offers protection for
small to medium areas that
require cost-effective very early
warning. It offers the same wide
sensitivity range as the VESDA
VLP and VESDA VLS — 0.005 to
20% obs/m (0.0016 - 6.25%
obs/ft). The VESDA VLC supports
three configurable alarm levels (Alert, Pre-Alarm and
Fire) and comes in two versions. One version interfaces
via relays only (RO) and the other across either relays
or VESDAnet (VN).
VESDA VLC-EX
The VESDA VLC-EX detector has
been specifically designed to
provide all the benefits of
aspirating smoke detection,
including very early warning, for
the protection of hazardous
applications with Zone 2
classification. It offers the same wide sensitivity
range as the VESDA VLP and VESDA VLS — 0.005 to
20% obs/m (0.0016 - 6.25% obs/ft). The VESDA
VLC-EX supports three configurable alarm levels (Alert,
Pre-Alarm and Fire) and comes in two versions. One
version interfaces via relays only (RO) and the other
across either relays or VESDAnet (VN). The VLC-EX
incorporates the well-proven VESDA VLP detection
technology into an IP54 rated stainless steel
enclosure.
5
VESDA Accessories VESDA Software

Remote Displays and Programmers Xtralis VSM4TM

The VESDA display module
monitors and reports the status
of a detector, providing visual
representation of smoke levels
along with all alarm and fault
conditions. The menu-driven
VESDA Programmer allows the
user to conveniently configure,
commission and maintain the VESDA system, as well
as program each individual detector.
The VSM software package allows the user to monitor,
configure and control a VESDA system from a central
location via a VESDAnet communication loop or
directly to VESDA detectors. Real-time and historical
events for a single detector or multiple networks of
detectors can be collected over a local- or wide-area
network. The data then can be processed and
presented in either report or graphical format — even
graphically on site floor plans.

VESDAnetTM
VESDAnet is a comprehensive,
fault-tolerant, “closed,” two-wire
communications loop that links
VESDA detectors, displays,
programmers and remote relay
modules on a daisy-chained
loop. VESDAnet enables a
number of units to be
programmed together from
one or more locations and
automatically detects Xtralis VSCTM
communication failures. It also The VSC software package can be used to configure,
easily interfaces with systems commission and maintain VESDA detectors. The
external to the network, such as intelligent fire alarm software provides high-level programming flexibility
panels and building management systems. through its on-line and off-line configuration
capabilities. Rapid diagnostic abilities, concurrent
configuration views, compare/merge functionality, and
VESDA Pipe simultaneous smoke-trend graphing of multiple
A key element in the detectors are other standard features designed to
performance of a VESDA ASD simplify operation and installation setup.
system is the sampling pipe
network that actively transports
air from the protected area to VESDA ASPIRETM
the detector. VESDA offers an VESDA ASPIRE is the latest version of VESDA sampling
extensive range of pipe and pipe network design and modeling software. It aids in
fittings to suit all application the design and evaluation process for basic to very
needs, ensuring a quality system complex pipe-network layouts. Key features, such as
is installed every time. design wizards, 3-D isometric views, an automated
design verification process, and a new AutoBalance
Some pipes and fittings are not available in certain capability, ensure that a tailored pipe layout is easily
countries. Please check with your local Xtralis office achieved. The Installation Data Pack (IDP) generates a
prior to ordering. series of reports with parameters, required materials
and expected system performance so installation and
commissioning engineers receive this information
clearly.
6
VESDA Detector Configurations
VLC VLC Industrial
Features VLP VLS VLF 250/500 VLC-EX
VESDAnet (VN) Relays Only (RO) VESDA VLI
UL, ULC, FM,
LPCB, VdS, AFNOR, UL, ULC, UL268A (in-duct application), FM, NY-MEA, ATEX, IECEx, UL,
Worldwide Certificates ActivFire, LPCB,
CSFM, ActivFire, CCCF, VNIIPO, CPR FM, CPR
VdS, CPR

Hazardous Area Approval

(FM Class 1, Div 2, Groups Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
A, B, C, D)

0.015% obs/m 0.025% obs/m 0.15%/m 0.015% obs/m

Min Fire 1 Threshold
(0.0046% obs/ft) (0.008% obs/ft) (0.046%/ft) (0.0046% obs/ft)
0.005 - 20.0%
0.025 - 20% obs/m 0.005 - 20% obs/m
0.005 - 20% obs/m obs/m
Detection Range (0.008 - 6.25% (0.0016 - 6.25%
(0.0016 - 6.25% obs/ft) (0.0016 - 6.25%
obs/ft) obs/ft)
obs/ft)
Patented Intelligent
Filter
Secondary Foam
Two Stage Filter Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Filter
Sub-sampling
Probe
2,000 m2
2,000 m2 800 m2 250/500 m2 2,000 m2 800 m2
Area Coverage (Maximum) (21,520 sq. ft)
(21,520 sq. ft) (8,610 sq. ft) (2,690/5,380 sq. ft) (21,520 sq. ft) (8,610 sq.ft)
across 4 sectors
25/50 m (82/164
Pipe Length (Linear) 200 m (656 ft) 200 m (656 ft) 80 m (262 ft) 360 m (1,181 ft) 80 m (262 ft)
ft)
30/60 m (98/197
Pipe Length (Branched) 400 m (1,312 ft) 400 m (1,312 ft) 100 m (328 ft) 445 m (1,460 ft) 100 m (328 ft)
ft)
Multiple Pipe
No Up to 4 No No No No No
Addressability
Total Number of Alarm 4 16 4 4
3 3 3
Thresholds (Day/Night) (Day/Night) (Day/Night) (Day/Night)
Relay Outputs 7 7 or 12 relays 3 3 3 (Expandable to 6) 5 3
On-board Memory
18,000 18,000 12,000 12,000 18,000 18,000 12,000
(Max. Events)
Flow Sensor Circuit
4 4 1 1 1 4 1
(one per pipe inlet)
IP Rating IP30 IP30 IP30 IP30 IP30 IP66 IP54
AutoLearn Smoke™ AutoLearn Smoke™
AutoLearn™ Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
AutoLearn AutoLearn
(Smoke/Flow) (Smoke) (Smoke) (Smoke) (Smoke) (Smoke)
Flow™ Flow™
VLF 250
EN54-20 Max. no of Holes 12 / 12 / 12;
30 / 60 / 100 40 / 40 / 60 30 / 36 / 40 30 / 36 / 40 24 / 28 / 60 30 / 36 / 40
(Class A / B / C) VLF 500
30 / 30 / 30
Local
Local (7 on-board LEDs
Local
Local or Remote Local or Remote (5 on-board 10 Segment As per
Local (5 on-board LEDs)
Bar Graph/Indicator LED (20 segment (20 segment LEDs). Remote (20 Circular Display) VLC (VN) &
(5 on-board LEDs) Remote display for
bargraph display) bargraph display) segment bargraph Remote display VLC (RO)
VLI-885
display) when fitted with
VESDAnet card
Local USB
Programmed
Programming Tools configuration port
Programmed via RS232 direct
- On-board Connection to As per
via RS232 direct connection to PC
Programming module Yes Yes Yes PC using VSC/ VLC (VN) &
connection to PC using VSC™ or
- Handheld Programmer VSM4 VLC (RO)
using VSC™ Programmer when
- PC Software (VSC, VSM) Programmer for
VN card is fitted
VLI-885
StaX Expandability No No No No No No No
Analytics No No No No No No No

VESDAnet™
Max. No. of devices/ 200 / 100 200 / 100 200 / 100
200 / 100 200 / 100 200 / 100 N/A
detectors per loop (with VN Card) (VLI-885) (VN version)
Max. Distance between 1,300 m 1,300 m 1,300 m 1,300 m (4,265 ft) 1,300 m (4,265 ft) 1,300 m (4,265 ft)
N/A
Devices (4,265 ft) (4,265 ft) (4,265 ft) (with VN Card) (VLI-885) (VN version)
Computer-based Yes
Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Management via VSM (VN version)
Remote Relay Modules
VRT-500 VRT-E00 VRT-500 VRT-500 VRT-500 VRT-500
- 7 relay version N/A
N/A VRT-900 N/A N/A N/A (VN version)
- 12 relay version
Compatible Remote
VRT-V00 VRT-Q00
Bargraph Displays VRT-200 VRT-400 VRT-J00 As per
N/A N/A
- Display, 7 relays N/A VRT-800 N/A N/A VLC (VN) &
VRT-W00 VRT-T00
- Display, 12 relays VRT-600 VRT-700 VRT-K00 VLC (RO)
(with VN Card) (VLI-885)
- Display, no relays
About Xtralis
Xtralis® is the leading global provider of converged solutions for the early detection and remote visual verification of
fire, gas and perimeter threats.

Our technologies prevent disasters by giving users time to respond before life, critical infrastructure or business
continuity is compromised. We protect high-value and irreplaceable assets belonging to the world’s top
governments and businesses. Our brands include the VESDA-E – the next generation of aspirating smoke
detection technology; VESDA® – the world’s leading very early warning aspirating smoke detection (ASD) systems;
ICAM™ for flexible ASD; ECO™ – Gas detection & environmental monitoring modules for VESDA & ICAM systems;
and, OSID™ – easy to use smoke detection for open areas.

To learn more, please visit us at www.xtralis.com.

Learn more: www.xtralis.com/vesda

www.xtralis.com
UK and Europe +44 1442 242 330 The Americas +1 800 229 4434
Middle East +962 6 588 5622 Asia +86 21 5240 0077
Australia and New Zealand +61 3 9936 7000

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